LYRA MAG.

A STATESIDE FOLLOW-UP TO MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK, BERLIN GRAMERCY PARK HOTEL, NYC September 22, 2009 3:00PM Words, Images Judith Ecochard We thought the sophisticated, very elegant and modern RTW Summer 2010 runway show by Dorothee Schumacher (-Singhoff), celebrating the 20th anniversary of her eponymous label, was the ideal way to start Berlin’s Fashion Week . Yet, it’s only when we made a sojourn to see the collection at the tastefully, hip Gramercy Park Hotel, did we fully appreciate the clever details, textiles, design flourishes…AND the amazing woman behind this Manheim, Germany based label. PLUS: Assigned to the nether regions for the show, we didn’t see the shoes at all. Now, we finally got an up close look and tactile-wise experienced those fab accessories too. BIT OF BACKGROUND: Dorothee Schumacher was raised in Düsseldorf , and got her fashion education/training via the high-end Italian and French textile industries. (Which explains why the exclusive fabrics used in h...

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Berlin July 4th, 2009 Hotel de Rome, Mitte Words, Images Judith Eocchard One of the many reasons we love Berlin…and the Fashion Week that’s a bi-annual gig…is that Germans GET the importance of the “creative industries” and the “culturally economy.” And the financial one, we might add. That’s why this fab city goes all out for attendees who descend on this great metropolis for the dynamic convergence of runway and tradeshows…and exhibits, openings, etc. We saw the Mayor several times, dapper in his suit...and it was toasty over there…without the American style A/C blasting away. There were German celebs galore...not that we knew who they were…and some international personalities like Justin Timberlake, Diane Kruger and Sienna Miller. Helping to keep Germany as a draw for young talent is the createeurope: The Fashion Academy Award --- sponsored by the Goethe-Institut and EUNIC (Association of the European Institutes for Culture) …to further German and interna...

Bebelplatz, Mitte Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Berlin July 4th 2009 We missed the Starstyling runway show…but love the “quirky” images we were sent. Reading up on the label ---we learned that the offbeat fashion sense is deliberate…and ironically so. Founders Katja Schlegel and Kai Seifried are Berlin based and clearly like to have fun, attire wise… Starstyling reminds of us the Italian line Mossimo…with its playful use of text and funky graphics. Our top look from this line however…are the vintage inspired sandals…a collaboration with Scholl . Awesome. INFO: STARSTYLING

Tempelhof Airport, Berlin July 1st, 2009 Words, Images Judith Ecochard and from the company website GURU is a hip lifestyle/clothing brand …born in Italy…and now owned by the MASSIVE Bombay Rayon Fashion Ltd. of India (April 2008). What got us interested was the quality of the clothes…and there are over 350 SKUs available. Wow.Gian Maria Montacchini, the brains behind Guru's daisy logo, has returned as "fashion coordinator" according to the press material we got. And apparently this "up market" brand is well known in Europe...as there are 15 stores and 9 franchises across the Pond. There’s a surfer/rocker vibe going on with the sporty collection (50's graphics too). Also the "Logo Life" and "Work" collections of streetwear…have great details (contrast collars), unusual finishes, spot on styling, and top end fabrics (especially the knitwear) in terrif colors and patterns. Other lines are coined “Riviera” and "Biarritz" that’s ...

“THE LUXURY SHOE INDIVIDUALIZER” Hotel Rome, Mitte Berlin Fashion Week July 3rd, 2009 Words, Images Judith Eocchard and Images Courtesy of Selve. Customized shoes where the client can select the styles, heels and materials are an affordable luxury (300-400 Euros)…as we discovered. The stately Hotel Rome, just across the street from the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Tent…was an elegant setting where the eight years old collection of Selve (pronounced sell-vay) Shoes…a Munich based company…was staged for fashion show attendees. We met the founder Claudia Kieserling, who clued us in as to what her brand brings to the market…in a three week turnaround from scanning by state of the art Voram scanning technology, to order placed… to finished product. First off, available in a wide range of sizes and widths, Selve shoes and a few handbag options, come in dozens of on trend styles for men and women… Like chic peep toes, strappy sandals, pumps adorned with various magnetic clips, ankle booties, a...

The ENTRANCE SOME PICS WE COULD TAKE A Wrangler Rider A Shot Of The Space Relaxing on the Runway Swarovski Crystal Arts and Crafts Acting Berlin Mayor KLAUS WOWEREIT Keeps His Cool At G-Star With B&B's HEINZ MULLER READY The Closest We Got To Justin Timberlake At William Rast